Backlash after puppy put down

Seven-month-old puppy Tammy was put down for aggression.

The dog trainer responsible for the training of seven-monthold puppy Tammy has insisted that there were no "aggressive overtures during the training period".

Mr Ricky Yeo, who is also the founder and president of Action For Singapore Dogs Society, an animal welfare organisation, added: "If the owner did not highlight any aggressive incidents... how could there be any 'unsuccessful attempts'?"

Mr Yeo, 45, was referring to the mongrel puppy that was put down on Oct 7 due to aggression.

Its adopter, Ms Alison McElwee, a clinic receptionist, had said the dog was aggressive and had bitten her and her two children.

The New Paper understands that Ms McElwee is currently overseas.

Tammy was put down at a veterinary clinic in Sunset Way, resulting in animal lovers and netizens calling for justice for the animal and both Ms McElwee and the vet from The Animal Clinic to be taken to task.

In a statement to the media on Monday, the managing director of The Animal Clinic, Dr Lennie Lee, said that from all the information made available to them by the owner, including the "unsuccessful correction of Tammy's aggression by a professional dog trainer", together with their own observation of the pup and confirmation that bites on the owner were consistent with animal bites, they concluded that "it would be in the interest of the dog and the family that the dog be put to sleep".